2021 has already proven itself a mixed bag, and the staff at the Revealer is more committed than ever to providing readers with insightful and thought-provoking cultural commentary. Like so many fellow Americans, the January 6th attack on the Capitol left us reeling, but more aware than ever that the White Nationalist movement needs to be addressed, and urgently. Sara Kamali, in “The Fourteen Words: Religion and Racism in White Nationalist Domestic Terrorism,” guides us through the belief system and shared rhetoric that these groups deploy to devastating effect. And Daniel José Camacho traces the roots of the idiom “Barbarians at the gate,” shedding light on how the mythologized sack of Rome obscures internal threats, such as the one America is facing now. We are also excited to welcome him to the Revealer family as a regular columnist! Daniel will contribute to a new series called “From the Margins,” which will give voice to those often forgotten or excluded from conversations about religion.
Amidst national debates about accountability and unity, we offer three articles that explore the complicated questions of justice and forgiveness. A beautiful personal essay by Sarah Herrington, “The Lineage Holders: Gender, Blurred Boundaries, and Buddhism,” examines the power dynamics and ethical questions surrounding a romantic relationship with a spiritual teacher. In “On Objects, Trauma, and Loss,” Contributing Editor Kali Handelman and Laura Levitt think together about the history, meaning, and power that objects can possess. An excerpt of Susan Shapiro’s book, The Forgiveness Tour, recounts the opinions that a Holocaust survivor has on whether forgiveness is the appropriate response after acts of horrific violence.
And for any cinephiles out there, check out Ambre Dromgoole’s piece “Pastor Mary Cosby, Arranged Pentecostal Marriages, and the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” or J. Barton Scott’s examination of race and religious messaging in “Religion in Lovecraft Country.”
Finally, if those eyes are blurry from Zoom calls and lack of sleep (when, oh when can school reopen safely?), take a break, close your eyes, and listen to this month’s Revealer Podcast Episode, “Black Lives Matter and American Catholics,” with host Brett Krutzsch and guest Olga Segura. They participate in an engaging discussion about the Catholic Church’s role in reinforcing white supremacy and why the Church needs to begin partnering with Black Lives Matter organizers.
As we kick off 2021, the articles in this issue reveal the struggles we still face, the questions we have yet to answer, and the hope and possibility ahead of us. Cheers!
